Official Outer Limits/Debunking Thread

[plaaynde]

Originally Posted by chezlaw

Nothing like that, deeply uninteresting http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_process

On Unix and Unix-like computer operating systems, a zombie process or defunct process is a process that has completed execution but still has an entry in the process table. This entry is still needed to allow the process that started the (now zombie) process to read its exit status. The term zombie process derives from the common definition of zombie—an undead person. In the term's colorful metaphor, the child process has died but has not yet been reaped. Also, unlike normal processes, the kill command has no effect on a zombie process.

That one was good!

[ZeroPointMachine]

Originally Posted by Zeno

I read the updates, not impressed (I could be wrong), but please repost the updates on Cold fusion here. We can keep tabs on developments and see if a breakthrough occurs at which point I will offer an apology and give myself 20 infraction points.

-Zeno

I don't have any real understanding of nuclear physics.

I do have some questions though.

Muon catalyzed fusion is a real process that occurs at low temperatures and pressures. So, low temperature and pressure fusion does not violate some fundamental law of physics. It just requires some exotic particles aimed at a mix of tritium and deuterium atoms and it is not self sustaining.

Physicists keep assuring us that the Universe is composed of five times as much Dark Matter as ordinary matter. Now if 80% of the matter is an unknown something how can anyone say what is or isn't possible? Dark matter doesn't interact with ordinary matter. But, deuterium atoms absorbed into a palladium matrix is not exactly something that occurs in nature. Who can say that there isn't some quantum state of dark matter that produces an exotic particle anti-particle pair that is impossible to detect unless it just happens to occur in the presence of two unusually close deuterium atoms?

I don't know if cold fusion is real. I don't know if dark matter is real. I think I have a soft spot for cold fusion because the original announcement came out when I was a freshman at GeorgiaTech and the entire campus was electrified with the possibilities of a new world. It's been 20 years and no progress has been made. Then again, the dark matter theory was ignored for 40+ years and despite being embraced for the last 30 or so it is still a mystery.

So, if cold fusion belongs in the 'Fringe' thread I say dark matter and dark energy do as well. I'll take (mass of dark matter particle/ mass of electron) infraction points when they prove me wrong

[Zeno]

Originally Posted by ZeroPointMachine

I don't have any real understanding of nuclear physics.


I don't know if cold fusion is real. I don't know if dark matter is real. I think I have a soft spot for cold fusion because the original announcement came out when I was a freshman at GeorgiaTech and the entire campus was electrified with the possibilities of a new world. It's been 20 years and no progress has been made. Then again, the dark matter theory was ignored for 40+ years and despite being embraced for the last 30 or so it is still a mystery.

It is my contention that the evidence for dark matter and dark energy are more robust than that of cold fusion:

http://nasascience.nasa.gov/astrophy...is-dark-energy

http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/spa...e/dark_matter/

but there are some good physics posters that could help us with this, so if they wish they can add their expertise which would be welcome.

I bolded a portion of the quote of your post because it illustrates something of great importance; that emotional attachment to an idea or theory can be a blinding force for the majority (pervasive in the public mindset), and, unfortunately, can include a few scientists. Emotional detachment and intellectual honesty is imperative in any scientific endeavor or pursuit of empirical knowledge. Sometimes a cult status pervades some endeavors until the rug is pulled out from under them. See the history of N-rays for example (see link below)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N_ray

Self-deception is a powerful drug. Best to avoid it.


-Zeno

[madnak]

Originally Posted by vhawk01

Moral of the story: Can you believe they grant medical licenses to people who dont even realize that you get pregnant FIRST, and are then BITTEN by a zombie, and thus it is ABSOLUTELY potentially a concern whether zombism crosses the placental barrier?

A better question is how someone makes it to the third year of medical school without watching Dawn of the Dead.

[vhawk01]

Originally Posted by madnak

A better question is how someone makes it to the third year of medical school without watching Dawn of the Dead.

There is fictionalization in (granted, very good) movies, and there is medical fact. Excuse me for wanting a definitive response.

[madnak]

Originally Posted by vhawk01

There is fictionalization in (granted, very good) movies, and there is medical fact. Excuse me for wanting a definitive response.

You mean, that wasn't a documentary?

[vhawk01]

Originally Posted by madnak

You mean, that wasn't a documentary?

These days the phrase "based on a true story" is used quite lightly.

[plaaynde]

Want to get this thread going.

Anything new about the crop circles?



This one has to have been done by intelligent creatures.

[MortalWombat]

Originally Posted by plaaynde

This one has to have been done by intelligent creatures.

Nope. It was done by humans like all the rest.

[plaaynde]

Originally Posted by MortalWombat

Nope. It was done by humans like all the rest.

Ok. Sorry. End of thread.









Except:



Evidence of the Jelly Invaders?
(note the capital letters in the beginning of the words)






Oh, I see:

[cixelsyD]

I was talking with a law student friend about her philosophy paper, and she said that she is enjoying the science in it. She thinks that metaphysics is science. Is she right?

[atakdog]

Originally Posted by cixelsyD

I was talking with a law student friend about her philosophy paper, and she said that she is enjoying the science in it. She thinks that metaphysics is science. Is she right?

No, but it doesn't matter because you won't change her mind.

[donniccolo]

Originally Posted by Concerto

It seems like "fringe" is way too broad for everything in math, science and philosophy matching that description to reasonably fit into a single thread.

Originally Posted by Zeno

Some clarification: Yes this is a serious thread, in so far as it goes. The intent is for improvement of the forum as I stated in the OP. For added concrete examples, The Official Homework Thread and Jason's Ask a Probabilist thread have been an excellent way to consolidate posts in a single location, stimulate discussion, and overall have a central place that posters know well and will go to with questions or to provide answers. In my judgment those threads have added greatly to the quality of this forum. In addition, with the advent of 2012 we had a spat of wild-eyed posts awhile back and I was forced to sent them to one designated thread; now this official thread will serve in that capacity.


The term ‘fringe’ is good enough for the title and includes all the usually pseudo-science and quackery that seems to pervade the public mindset. There is no need to draw up a list of what will and will not go into this thread as determinations can be made on a case by case basis. The examples serve as a guidepost. If someone thinks they saw the Yeti, or a medium told someone they should invest all their money in Stock X, then there is a place in SPM to post on those subjects. It is also easier on those who wish to avoid the subject altogether, in having a central focal point for fringe topics.

Legitimate topics or questions on science, math and philosophy will not be effected because of this official thread.

-Zeno

PS: Elvis lives!

Originally Posted by Zeno

I read the updates, not impressed (I could be wrong), but please repost the updates on Cold fusion here. We can keep tabs on developments and see if a breakthrough occurs at which point I will offer an apology and give myself 20 infraction points.

-Zeno

haha "give myself 20 infraction points" made me laugh. obv you're not a bad guy, and i don't totally disagree with your "fringe" idea. i just think that another way to handle it would be to create a "Fringe" category under OOT and then posters could have individual threads about each "fringe" topic. over time, there are going to be lots of different Fringe subjects and it won't be very efficient having a 12,000 post thread to handle them all.

hopefully you reconsider.

ps: a Neutron walks into a bar, ask how much for a drink, bartender says, "for you, no charge" ooh

(sorry saw on a tv show and had to laugh)

[cixelsyD]

Originally Posted by atakdog

No, but it doesn't matter because you won't change her mind.

You are correct sir.

[uDevil]

Originally Posted by Zeno

Self-deception is a powerful drug. Best to avoid it.

-Zeno

There's no way to do that if you refuse to reconsider an idea. Some ideas (e.g. the cosmological constant, heliocentrism) have come back after being 'discredited'.

I don't know if cold fusion belongs in the same category with n-rays, but anything labeled 'fringe' isn't going to get serious discussion. No wonder progress comes one funeral at a time.